Why Indie Video Games Matter

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Microsoft's new game console, the Xbox One, will have a place for
indie games, although it's not clear exactly what or where that
place may be. Gamers may have to wait a few more weeks for a
straight answer on how Microsoft will sell and advertise indie
titles, but they are asking the right question.

Indie games are a bigger deal than ever, and both consumers and
manufacturers stand to benefit from the intuitive distribution of
small, innovative titles. Indie games are likely to have a big
presence on both the Xbox One and PlayStation 4, but as in ages
past, the best place to find them is still the PC.

There's no solid definition of what constitutes an
indie game, as developers of these titles vary wildly in
terms of budget, team size and game scope. Still, gamers know
indie when they see it. "Minecraft," a simple construction game
with purposely dated graphics, is an indie game; "Call of Duty:
Black Ops II," a graphically intense first-person shooter
brimming with gameplay features, is not.

Consoles

Microsoft currently offers two avenues for indie games on the
Xbox 360: Xbox Live Arcade (a more expensive platform whose
titles resemble disc-based games, but are smaller) and Xbox Live
Indie Games (a more "Wild West" store, where cheap,
nontraditional, unrated games appear following a peer-review
process in which Microsoft has little involvement).

Microsoft has traditionally charged a great deal of money for
developers to host their games on Xbox Live Arcade (even
distributing a patch can cost up to $40,000), which generally
keeps game quality high, but locks out developers with lower
budgets. Although it previously stated that indie developers
would not be allowed to self-publish on
Xbox One, Microsoft has vowed a kind of nebulous "support"
for indies.

In March, Nintendo relaxed its previously draconian policies
about submitting to its
Wii U and 3DS eShops. Now, gamers searching for content need
only open the eShop and see indie games displayed right alongside
their mainstream brethren.

Although Sony's PlayStation 3 had a number of indie hits, such as
"Journey," "Papo & Yo" and " Guacamelee,"
its indie submission process has been labyrinthine and did not
receive a dedicated "Indie Games" section in the online
PlayStation Store until this month. [See also: 5
Hit Games Made on a Shoestring ]

Sony will not elaborate on its indie plans for the PS4 until the
E3 gaming convention next month. If its PS3 Store is any
indication, indie games will at least have their own section.

PC downloads

Indie titles have historically been most plentiful on the PC, and
for now, the desktop computer still holds the reins. Steam, the
most popular digital download service for games, has given
players the power to determine which indie titles they want to
buy.

Developers submit their games to a service called Steam
Greenlight, where users then vote on whether they'd like to see
the title available. If a title amasses enough votes, Steam will
carry it and even give it an advertising push when it first
releases. Game creators can also use Greenlight to gauge audience
interest in game concepts and correspond directly with potential
users.

Indie gaming is more popular than it's ever been, and players
will increasingly have access to a cornucopia of cheap,
innovative titles across a variety of platforms. All they'll need
is an open mind and a little help from manufacturers.